Hose-reel.



NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT E. WOOD, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

HOSE-REEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,346, dated April 22, 1902.

Y Application filed April 18 1901. Serial No. 56,441. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT EWOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut,have invented a new and useful Hose- Reel, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hose-reels, and more particularly to that class employed in buildings for carrying fire-hose.

The object is in a ready, certain, and rapid manner to effect winding and unwinding of the hose with relation to the reel and without danger when unwinding the hose of twisting or kinking the same, as where the hose is rapidly drawn from the reel in case of fire.

One salient feature of the invention resides in efiecting in one rotation of the reel the winding of two lengths of hose, thereby with a reel of given diameter doublingits winding and unwinding capacity.

A further object of the invention is to provide for conveniently engaging an intermediate doubled or bight portion of a hose with the reel, so that the opposite hose-sections may not he one upon the other, but may be separated to lie upon the respective end portions of the reel, and also to facilitate the disengagement of the intermediate bight portion of the hose without removing any fastening means and also without drawing one of the hose-sections through a ring or eye, as has been heretofore required.

Another salient feature of the invention resides in the peculiar mannerof supporting the reel to permit of its being swung or revolved about a vertical axis, thereby to permit of the hose being drawn from the reel in any direction and without danger of twisting or kinking.

With the above objects in view the invention consists, generally stated, in a reel rotatable about a horizontal-axis, one of the reelrungs being provided with an arm or projection to be engaged by a bend of the hose, whereby under rotation of the reel two lengths of hose willbe wound at the same time and in the same direction, thereby reducing by one-half the time and labor required to wind and unwind the hose.

The invention consists, more generally stated, in a reel rotatable about a horizontal axis, one of the reel-run gs being provided with an arm or projection to be engaged by a bend of the hose and the reel being supported by a frame movable about a vertical axis, whereby the reel may be turned in any direction that may be required in serving the hose.

The invention consists, further, in the construction and combination of parts of a hosereel, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, I have illustrated a reel embodying a form of my invention and capable of carrying my ideas into effect, it being understood that the same may be departed from in matters of detail and the aggroupment of certain parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and in these drawings-- Figure 1 is a view in perspective exhibiting the reel suspended for position in use. Fig. 2 is a View in transverse section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentarydetail view showing more particularly the manner'in which the rungs are assembled with relation to the reel-arms.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates generally the reel, and 2 generally the reelsupporting bracket therefor. The reel comprises two rung-supports3 and a plurality of rungs 4. The rung-supports 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, comprise each asix-armed structure, although it is to be clearly understood that a greater or less number of arms may be employed. The supports are by preference made of cast-iron and having the outer surfaces of the arms reinforced by a rib 5. On the inner surface of each arm and near its extremity is an offset 7, to which the rungs 4: are secured, as byfscrews or bolts 8. As here shown, the offsets are formed integral with the arms; but it is to be understood that, if preferred, they may be made of a separate structure and secured to the arms. The rungs 4 are somewhat wider than the armsfthe arms being made as light as consistent with requisite strength. To support the rungs throughout their entire width, the oifsets are shown as extending at each sidebeyondthe arms to correspond to the widthof the rung; but, if desired,the oifsets may be of the same width as the arms, or the rungs may be made smaller to correspond to the width of the arms. As here shown, the rungs are approximately rectangular in cross-section with the outer face rounded to obviate the presentation of sharp corners which will tend to injure the hose when placed on the reel; but, if preferred, the rungs may be made circular or other shape in cross-section and be made to perform the function for which they are designed. One of the rungs carries a hose-engaging arm or projection 9, the same by preference being made of wood and secured to an enlargement 10, formed on the rung carrying the projection, by means of a screw-threaded fastening 10, which pierces the enlargement and enters the base of the projection, this projection to be of such diameter as to prevent any damage to the hose when looped around the same. As the rung is comparatively narrow, the projection has been made somewhat larger in diameter than the width of the rung in order that the hose may easily bend around the projection without being kicked, as would be the case with a smaller projection, and in order that the projection may have a firm foundation the rung has been provided with the enlarged portion 10. The outer ends of the arms 5 are shown as somewhat tapered and deflected or bent outward from the length of the arms, these inclined surfaces to shift or guide the hose when the length of the rung has been traversed by the hose wound thereon; but, if preferred, the extremity of these arms may be straight, as usual.

It will here be noted that the hose-engaging projection 9 is carried by one of the rungs only, the remaining rungs being entirely free from projections, and the length of the projection is but slightly greater than the diameter of the hose, whereby the entire surface of the reel may be employed for winding the hose thereon.

The supporting-bracket 2 is, as shown in Fig. 1, constructed of a bar of metal 11, hav-' ing its lower end formed with a yoke 12 of a size to straddle the ends of the reel, the members of the yoke being held against the reel by screws or bolts 13, one at each end of the reel. As here shown, the reel supporting bolts are threaded only into the arms of the yoke members, that portion of the bolts engaging the rung-supports being plain or unthreaded to permit the reel to rapidly rotate thereon. The rod portion 11 of the bracket is threaded throughout a portion of its length and carries three nuts 14, 15, and 16, the rod passing through brackets 17 and 18, secured to any suitable support, as to a wall,'or they may be secured to a board, and thus fastened to a wall or other support.

The object of the nuts 14, 15, and 16 is to hold the rod 11 in operative position with relation to the brackets 17 and 18 to permit the reel being turned about a vertical axis formed by the rod and the brackets. To effect this, the nut 14 is screwed down upon the top of the bracket 18, and the nut 16 screwed down upon the top of the bracket 17, and the nut 15 screwed against the bottom of the bracket 17, the latter nut serving to prevent accidental separation of the rod from the bracket 17.

In the operation of the reel the same may be positioned at any point of a room or ballway near the floor or near the ceiling. The center point of the hose is bent around the arm or projection 9 and the reel turned thus to wind two lengths of the hose at the same time and in the same direction upon the reel, the nozzle atthe end of the operation always hanging down in order ever to be within easy reach of a person of ordinary stature. It will here be noted that the enlargement 10 is circular or rounded in shape, and the hoseengaging projection 9 is of a corresponding cross-sectional shape, whereby the enlargement 10 forms an inner extension of the projection and prevents the hose from becoming engaged beneath the inner end of the projection, as would be the case if the enlargement 10 were omitted. It is thus apparent that the enlargement cooperates with the projection to insure a smooth disposition of the hose and to maintain the opposite portions thereof properly separated. In order that the nozzle may be out of the way and at the same time supported to relieve strain from the reel, which might cause the same to revolve, and thus allow the nozzle to fall to the floor, a staple or other support may be driven into the wall or the like a few feet above the floor and the nozzle engaged with the staple, so that it will always be in position to be grasped when necessary. In the construction of the reel-supporting bracket the length of the yoke-arm 12 and of the brackets 17 and 18 are to be taken into consideration, as it is intended that these parts shall be of such length, or, in other words, extend out such a distance from the wall or other fixture to which the bracket may be secured as to permit the reel to be turned completely around on its vertical axis. It may be further noted with regard to the threaded portion of the rod 11 that this will permit of the rod being adjusted to different heights, or, in other words, to be raised or lowered, as may be requisite. In case of fire the nozzle is removed from the staple and the hose drawn from the reel as rapidly as necessary and in the desired direction, and it will be found that as both lengths of the hose are woundin the same direction and that both are unwound at the same rate of speed the hose when free from the reel will be absolutely without twists or kinks. The device as a whole is an exceedingly simple construction, being composed of the fewest possible number of parts and these assembled and secured in a manner to present the greatest wear-resisting properties with a minimum danger of derangement in use.

Instead of providing the screws or bolts 13 for holding the yoke-arms assembled with the rung-supports, as described, I may provide IIO i the pintles, threading these holes, and then seating therein large-headed screws.

In connection with the engagement of the hose with the reel it is desired to call attention to the fact that the intermediate portion of the hose is first doubled or formed into a bight, which is hooked or looped over the hose-engaging projection, whereby in removing the hose from the reel it is merely necessary to lift the bight portion from the projection without removing any fastening devices and also without drawing one of the hosesections entirely around the projection or through a ring or eye.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A reel for storing hose having opposite heads, rungs connecting the heads, one of the rungs having an intermediate rounded enlargement projected at opposite sides thereof and flush with the outer face of the rung, an unobstructed substantially radial and outwardly-directed hose-engaging projection applied to the outer side of the enlargement and corresponding in cross-sectionalsize andshape thereto, the length of the projection being greater than the diameter of the hose to be wound upon the reel, and a fastening piercing the enlargement and entering the base of the projection, the remaining rungs being free from projections, whereby the hose is prevented from becoming engaged across the inner end of the projection and the entire surface of the reel may be utilized in the winding of hose thereof.

2. The combination with a reel having a substantially horizontal axis, of a support therefor comprising an upright rotatable and endwise-adjustable member, having at its lower end a laterally-projected yoke-shaped frame straddling the opposite ends of the reel and pivotally supporting the same.

3. A reel rotatable about a horizontal axis, and a frame for supporting the reel, the frame being mounted for rotation about a vertical axis through a complete circle and being vertically adjustable thereby to permit of the reel being raised or lowered as required.

4. A reel comprising two rung supports each formed with a plurality of arms, rungs secured near the extremities of the arms, and a bracket to which the reel is operatively connected, the bracket comprising a yoke connected with the rung supports, and a rod mounted for rotary movement in suitable brackets.

5. A reel comprising two rung supports each provided with a plurality of arms and having ofisets near their extremities, rungs secured to the offsets, a bracket for supporting the reel, the same comprising a yoke suitably connected with the rung-supports, and a rod mounted for rotary movement in sup- 7o porting-brackets, the said rod being vertically adjustable in the brackets.

6. A reel comprising two rung supports each formedwith a plurality of reinforced arms and provided near their extremities with 7 5 offsets of greater width than the arms, rungs secured to the oifsets, one of the rungs carrying a hose-engaging arm or projection, and a reelsupporting bracket comprising arod mounted for rotary movement and vertical adjustment in suitablesupports, the lower portion of the rod being provided with a yoke to straddle the reel and to be connected with the rungsupports in such manner as to permit the reel to freely rotate on its axes. 8 5

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT E. WOOD.

Witnesses:

ALBERT HAZEN Ross, CORNELIUS J. DANAHER. 

